VOORHEES, N.J. — Tye McGinn won’t become a fixture on the top line for the Flyers, but for now, the rookie out of nowhere has become a welcome addition for a scoring challenged team.

McGinn’s spot on left wing is usually occupied by Scott Hartnell, who is perhaps a month away from returning from his fractured foot hiatus. The Flyers also tried Wayne Simmonds on the top line, which was fine until Simmonds took a nasty elbow from Washington defenseman John Erskine Friday night that left Simmonds concussed.

After impressing first at Adirondack then at the Flyers’ six-day training camp, McGinn was called back from the Phantoms after fourth-line winger Zac Rinaldo went down with a thigh laceration in the season’s second game in Buffalo. McGinn then became coach Peter Laviolette’s wildcard choice for the top line after Simmonds went down against the Capitals.

McGinn registered an assist in that game and made his presence felt. Then in a 5-3 home victory Saturday over Carolina, McGinn went pointless but was right in the middle of a Flyers’ scoring rebirth. Top-line teammates Claude Giroux and Danny Briere both had a goal and assist, and gave much of the credit to their new linemate.

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“He’s playing well for us,” Giroux said. “He’s a big kid and he protects the puck well. Me and Danny are having fun playing with him.”

At 22, McGinn still is more about potential than production. But he has a firm grasp on how to use his 6-foot-2, 205-pound frame.

“He’s a big body. He makes a lot of room for us,” Briere said. “My first game with him was actually in Tampa Bay. We had a terrible game, but I remember leaving that game and saying to a few of the guys around, ‘This kid can play.’ He creates a lot of turnovers. He’s always on the puck.

“I think Claude, too, really liked the chemistry that formed quickly between the three of us. Hopefully it keeps going.”

McGinn and his two skilled linemates are going to be have to on the puck and on the ball Tuesday night, as the Flyers have a rematch of what Briere aptly described as a terrible, 5-1 loss to the Lightning Jan. 27. At least this meeting with Tampa Bay, which is 7-1-1 against the Flyers since Guy Boucher took over as head coach.

“It’s a tough one to evaluate,” Briere said of that lopsided loss to the Lightning, “because we really didn’t skate the way we’re capable of. Obviously, we played the night before, and there’s going to be a lot of situations this year when we’re going to be stuck that way and we have to find a way to come out and play harder than we did in that game. Yes, they’re playing well, and they have a lot of guys that can score. But at the same time, we were way too soft on the battles.”

Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren confirmed Monday that Simmonds won’t be available for the game. The time period for Simmonds’ return has not been determined.

“We’ll see how he is (Tuesday),” said Holmgren, adding Simmonds likely will undergo a baseline test then. “We don’t think it’s serious, but you have to make sure you do the right thing and that’s what we’re doing.”

Rather than be sick about another loss of a top forward, Laviolette came up with what could be a workable solution in McGinn.

“It’s something cool,” McGinn said. “They’re great players and I couldn’t be happier to play with them.”

He added that when told of his sudden promotion, the coaching advice he received was simple.

“Just work hard and get the puck to them; get it deep and just basically do what I’ve been doing this year,” McGinn said. “It’s been up and down (this year), but it’s been a great journey for me. ... I’m just trying to do my best to contribute. Everybody has a different style of play and that’s what makes a team. You have to fill in the pieces everywhere. I have to play my style whether I’m on the fourth line or the first line.”

NOTES

Vincent Lecavalier missed practice Monday, still suffering from taking a shot off his left ankle. When asked about his availability for the Flyers game, Lecavalier said, “There is no thought of me not playing.” ... Through Sunday, Lecavalier and the Lightning boasted the top-ranked power play in the league at 36.1 percent, and the most goals per game of any team at 4.88. ... While the Flyers couldn’t sniff a number like 36.1, the 3-for-3 power play posting against the Hurricanes Saturday should inflate their confidence. “It’s a huge relief to finally see it,” Briere said. “We felt the last few games we were doing a lot of good things but the puck just wasn’t going in. So now, to have a few go in for us, it’s definitely a huge relief.”